Golf club and bat attackers get 32 years

FIVE members of an extended Rochdale family who launched a vicious attack on a man during a feud have been jailed for a total of 32 years. Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday that the victim, Tabreaz Ali, suffered serious head injuries and is still experiencing difficulties a year later. The incident happened outside McDonald’s restaurant on Kingsway and was witnessed by several children, who were left traumatised.

Five members of an extended Rochdale family who launched a vicious attack on a man during a feud have been jailed for a total of 32 years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday that the victim, Tabreaz Ali, suffered serious head injuries and is still experiencing difficulties a year later.

The incident happened at 4pm on 22 January 2007 outside McDonald’s restaurant on Kingsway and was witnessed by several children, who were left traumatised.

Jailing them, Judge John Roberts said: “This can only be described as a grotesque and horrific attack. Members of the public were sickened by what they saw and children found it difficult to come to terms with it.”

He said the background to the attack was the defendants objecting to the criminal activities of the victim and his associates. Earlier in the day another family member had been injured by them.

Zahid Iqbal was jailed for eight years, his brother, of the same address, and Hussain, also of Albert Royds Street, both got seven years.

Nawaz, aged 45, was sent down for six years, while Sultana, of the same address, received four years.

Peter Cadwallader, prosecuting, said the victim, Mr Ali, was stationary in a Toyota Corolla with three passengers at the junction of Kingsway and Wallhead Road when a Renault Clio containing the Iqbals, Hussain and another man was deliberately rammed into it.

The incident was revenge for an attack earlier that day during which Nawaz’s son, Imran Nawaz, was injured.

After the crash outside McDonald’s, both parties got out of the vehicles, all armed with weapons. The defendants had golf clubs, a baseball bat, metal bars and hammers.

They confronted each other and used mobile phones to call reinforcements, said Mr Cadwallader.

A Subaru Imprezza arrived at speed pursued by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by Nawaz. His passengers included his wife and son Imran, nicknamed Smiley.

The Land Cruiser deliberately rammed the Subaru causing it to lose control and hit one of the men at the scene.

“Mohammed Nawaz then drove onto the pavement and then directly at the victim’s group, knocking over three of them,” said Mr Cadwallader.

Mohammed Nawaz and his wife then got out of the vehicle. Mr Ali became separated from his group and the occupants of the Clio set on him using their weapons.

“He crouched down with his hands trying to protect his head from the weapons, which included a claw hammer and baseball bat. Eventually he fell to the floor, but the attack continued. Mohammed Nawaz and Sultana joined in with golf clubs or club shafts.

“Mr Ali was screaming for them to stop, but it had no effect. Eventuallly, he went quiet and was knocked unconscious. The defendants continued to strike him. The police arrived and the five left.

The victim was rushed to Rochdale Infirmary, where he was found to have a depressed fracture of the skull and swelling of the brain.

He was seen by a neuro-psychologist in March and was disorientated, confused and subdued and had significant cognitive problems. He is still suffering from memory impairment and although improvement is expected, he is likely to have some permanent impairment.

Mr Cadwallder said: “When Zahid Iqbal was arrested he described Mr Ali and his associates as drug dealers involved in organised crime, including the use of guns. He said his family had complained to the police on many occasions, but they neglected to provide assistance.”

He said the prosecution accepted there was a geud, but contended that historically both groups were as bad as each other.

The court heard that Zahid Iqbal had previous convictions, including robbery. Hussain had several, including possessing drugs, while Nawaz had a conviction of affray using a golf club.

Defence barristers said that it was a shameful and disgraceful incident, which they regretted.

Nawaz had been motivated by what happened to his son earlier in the day and he had difficulty controlling his emotions about matters involving his family.